Folding table with top pivotally mounted at one end



O United States Patent 1 13,537,407

[ Inventor Wenmm t rlus 1,080,950 12/1913 Brewer 108/124 Barrlnawndllinols 2,016,363 10/1935 108/124 1211 pp 144,845 2,053,789 9/1936 108/124 [221 Filed J y 15,1968 2,055,007 9/1936 108/124 1 Patented Nov-3,1970 2,212,938 8/1940 108/124X 31 Assignee 11 Tube Bendina p y. 1119- 2,120,431 10/1955 108/124 Chimmflllmis 3,364,884 1/1968 1111111111611 et al. 108/124. a corporation of Illinois FOREIGN PATENTS 668,398 12/1938 Germany 108/124 1541 FOLDING TABLE WITH TOP PIVOTALLY Primary Examiner-Marvin Champion MOUNTED AT ONE D Assistant Examiner- [an A. Calvert 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs. Attorney-Wilson and Geppert [52] U.S. Cl. 108/124 Cl A47) ABSTRACT: A folding table that collapses to take up a [50] Field oiSearch 108/1 15, minimum of space and opens to form a rigid table preferably 1 124 provided with casters for maximum mobility, the table including a rigid top ivotal at one end on one of a air of end le [56] References cued sections with th leg sections being connected y a hinged in UNITED STATES PATENTS termediate frame. Each leg section includes a pair of legs in a 299,680 6/1884 Ritter 108/124 rigid frame, and the intermediate frame includes a pair of U- 442,507 12/1890 Benton..... 108/124X shaped members hinged together at their bases and pivotally 490,320 l/1893 Smyth 108/124 mounted at their outer ends to the leg sections.

FOLDING TABLE WITH TOP PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ONE END The present invention relates to a folding table and more particularly to a collapsible table which is foldable in a vertical plane and has a one-piece rigid top which is pivotally mounted at one end to pivot from a horizontal operative position to a vertical inoperative or storage position.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a folding table having a rigid one-piece top pivotally mounted at one end to an end leg section. Each leg section includes a front and a rear leg in a rigid frame, and a hinged center section connects the end leg sections together.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a collapsible or folding table having a rigid top and a pair of rigid end leg sections joined by a hinged center section. The center section includes a pair of generally U-shaped tubular members hinged. together at their abutting bases with the outer ends of each U-shaped member pivotally connected to one of the end leg sections. The pivotal connection is adjacent one of the two legs in the leg section so that the U-shaped member will not extend beyond the end leg section when folded.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a collapsible or folding table having a rigid top where the top is locked onto the frame and legs when in fully open position. The table top is pivotally mounted on one end leg section, and the opposite end leg section is provided with a pair of upwardly projecting pins. The table top has an inwardly projecting flange with openings generally aligned but slightly offset relative to the pins so that the pins cannot enter the openings when the frame is in fully open position. The pins each have a groove therein to receive an edge of the opening in the flange to retain the top thereon.

The present invention also comprehends the provision of a collapsible or folding table where the end leg sections and center section are extended to nearly fully open position so that the pins on the end leg section enter the openings in the table top flange. Then the center section is fully extended to interlock the table top on the pins by the grooves in the pins.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a collapsible or folding table where the table top is pivotally mounted on one end leg section to swing from a horizontal position forming the table through an arc of 270 to a vertical position parallel to the end leg section.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novel collapsible table shown in fully opened position.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view'taken from the right hand end of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the table in open position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of F IG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial front elevational view of the pivotal mounting for the table top.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial exploded perspective view of the pivotal mounting for the table top.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawing wherein is shown an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 discloses a collapsible table assembly 10 having a rigid table top 11, end leg sections 12 and 13 and a hinged center section 14. The table top 11 has a flat upper working or supporting surface 15 with downwardly extending sides 16 and ends 17 and inwardly extending flanges 18 shown parallel to but spaced from the surface 15. A pair of aligned openings 19 are formed in the sides 16, 16 adjacent one end 17, and a pair of slightly enlarged openings 21 are formed in the flanges 18,18 extending from the sides 16,16 but adjacent the opposite end 17.

Each end leg section 12 or 13 has a tubular leg 22 and a spaced tubular leg 23 rigidly joined by a top horizontal tubular member 24 and a lower tubular horizontal member 25. A caster 26 is preferably mounted in the lower open end 27 of each leg 22 and 23 Each top horizontal member 24 has a depending pivot pin 28 (FIGS. 2 and 4) secured therein and each lower horizontal member 25 has an upwardly projecting pivot pin 29 secured therein for a purpose to be later described. The end leg section 12 also includes a pair of upwardly projecting pins 31 (FIG. 5) secured in the top horizontal member 24 adjacent theopposite ends. Each pin 31 includes a transverse groove 32 adjacent the top edge of the member 24 and facing outwardly away from the opposite section 13. These pins 31 cooperate .with the openings 21 in the table top flanges 18,18

as will be later described.

The end leg section 13 includes a pair of generally Lshaped brackets 33 having a horizontal flange 34 secured to the upper surface of top member 24, such as by the rivets 35 (FIGS. 6 and 7), and a vertical flange 36 at the outside edge of the member 24 and extending outwardly away from the end leg section 12. A pivot pin 37 is secured to and extends inwardly from the vertical flange 36 adjacent the outer end thereof. These pins 37,37 are received in the openings 19,19 in the sides 16,16 of the table top 11.

The hinged center section 14 includes a pair of generally U- shaped tubular members 38,38 each having parallel and horizontally extending legs or ends 39,39 joined by a generally straight and vertical base portion 41. The base portions 41,41 are joined together by an elongated vertical hinge 42 having the hinge wings secured thereto by rivets 43 or other suitable means. Each end 39 of each U-shaped member 38 has an opening therein (not shown) toreceive a pivot pin 28 or 29 to pivotally mount the members 38 of the center section 14 onto the end leg sections 12 and 13; the U-shaped members 38,38 having sufficient resilience so that the ends 39,39 can be snapped onto the pins 28 and 29.

To assemble the table top 11 onto the end leg section 13, the pins 37,37 on the brackets 33,33 are inserted into the openings 19,19 and the top 11 and brackets 33,33 are positioned on the section 13 with the flanges 34,34 abutting the top member 24, and the flanges are riveted thereto. The table top 11 is pivoted around the axis formed by the pins 37 through an arc of 270 from the horizontal position shown in solid lines in FIG. 6, to the vertical position paralleling the end section 13 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6.

With the table 10 in the fully opened position shown in FIGS. 13, the grooves 32 of the pins 31 engage the edges of the openings 21 in the table top 11 to prevent collapsing thereof. To fold and collapse the table the center section 14 is slightly folded inwardly about the hinge 42 to draw the end leg section 12 towards the end leg section 13 and thereby releasing the table top 11.from the grooves 32. Then the top 11 is pivoted about the axis of the pins 37 through 270 to a vertical position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6. The center section 14, pivoting on the end leg sections 12 and 13 through the pins 28 and 29, is folded about the hinge 42 to fold the center section 14 within the closely abutting leg sections to provide a compact collapsed assembly for shipping or for storage.

To open the table, the movements are reversed with the unfolding of the-hinged center section 14 until it is in nearly open position. Then the table top is pivoted to a horizontal position with the pins 31 entering the openings 21. The center section 14 is then completely opened to engage the edges of openings 21 with the grooves 32 on the pins 31. While a collapsible table of a particular and effective shape has been shown and described by way of illustration, it is not my intent or desire to unnecessarily restrict the improvement by virtue of this illustrative embodiment.

lclaim:

1. A collapsible table comprising a table top, a pair of end frames and a center frame, said center frame being pivoted at the outer ends onto said end frames and having a central hinge, said table top being pivoted adjacent one end onto one end frame for swinging movement between a vertical and a horizontal position and in the latter position bridging said end frames, a pair of spaced vertical pins projecting upwardly from the other end frame adjacent the outer edges thereof, said table top including depending edges terminating in inwardly extending flanges with at least one flange having spaced openings generally aligned with and receiving said pins when the end frames and center frame are opened and the table top is in horizontal position, said openings being slightly offset from said pins when the table is in fully opened position with each pin having a groove therein facing away from the pivotal axis of the table top, said grooves engaging the edges of the flange defining the openings to lock the table top onto the frame.

2. A collapsible table as set forth in claim 1 said pins being aligned with and received in said openings with said end frames and center frame in a nearly open position, and when the center frame is moved to fully open planar position, said flange edges are received in the grooves.

3. A collapsible table as set forth in claim 1, in which the longitudinal edges of the table top have opposite inwardly extending flanges, each flange having one of said openings therein spaced from the end of the table top opposite the pivotally mounted end thereof.

4. A collapsible table as set forth in claim 1, including a pair of L-shaped brackets, each bracket having a vertical flange mounted on the upper outer edge'of said one end frame and a horizontal flange extending outwardly away from the center frame, a pivot pin mounted on each horizontal flange and extending inwardly toward each other along a common horizontal axis parallel to said one end frame, said pivot pins extending through aligned openings in the opposite depending longitudinal edges of the table top to provide a pivotal axis therefor.

S. A collapsible table as set forth in claim I, in which each end frame includes a pair of parallel vertical legs joined by upper and lower parallel horizontal connecting members, and

said center frame includes a pair of generally U-shaped members hinged together at their bases, a pair of vertically aligned opposed pins on each end frame, and each end of each U- shaped member having an opening receiving one of said vertically aligned pins to provide a pivotal axis for the outer ends of said center frame. 

